In an interview with HuffPost Live, the show’s host asked if there were “space to have a different kind of Latino representation” in entertainment, given the whole Devious Maids debacle.

After a quick little comment about “the show with the fine maids,” Anthony said this:

As far as people being in uproar, they don’t owe us anything The industry doesn’t owe us anything, networks don’t owe us anything. You have a complaint? Educate yourself, take up writing, become a producer, direct it.

First, the question asked by the Huff Post Live’s Marc Lamont never asked Anthony if Hollywood owed Latinos anything, and never mind the comment about the “fine maids.” Let’s just try and dissect what Anthony is saying.

“People being in an uproar…”
You can’t have it both ways, Marc. The whole “uproar” from social media benefited you when the online haters were telling you to go back to Mexico. In that case, that “uproar” was seen as genuine support, but when you don’t agree with a point, it is an “uproar?” Got it.

“The industry doesn’t owe us anything, networks don’t owe us anything.”
In all the stories I have read or have written about Latino representation in Hollywood, I have never come across anyone ever saying that Latinos are “owed” representation. This is not about entitlement, as Anthony suggests, it is about trying to change the media landscape a bit, and you would think that after Anthony felt some of the hateful and ignorant perceptions people have about Latinos in this country, he wouldn’t have sounded so flippant. Thanks for nothing, Marc.

“You have a complaint? Educate yourself, take up writing, become a producer, direct it.” Seriously? Is Anthony this out of touch with what is happening? Is he not aware of the countless independent projects developed by Latinos? Here are just a few: East WillyB, Hey Vato, Pale Blue Light. These three shows (and there are countless others) have already been written, directed, and produced. No one is complaining. Latinos are doing exactly what you are saying, but why aren’t these projects hitting Hollywood?

The answer is simple: because the power to make these decisions and greenlight projects is still entrenched in promoting the same stale stereotypical narrative of US Latinos. Anthony’s comments don’t help either, because when entertainment executives hear his words, it only justifies why they aren’t clamoring for more creative and original Latino programming in the first place. If Marc Anthony thinks Hollywood doesn’t owe Latinos anything (which was not even the point of Lamont’s original question), then Hollywood won’t change.

When I shared the original Anthony interview with my social networks, a few of my friends weighed in, proving once again that my friends are smarter than me:

I love his music, his voice but, he’s ignoring the fact that many Latinos are trying to write, and produce something different, but the big TV networks are not giving them the opportunities they deserve.

I find his comments to be out of touch, arrogant and disrespectful to the many talented writers, producers and directors who are struggling to get their content greenlit.

No one is owed anything, Marc, but now that you are in a position of success and influence, your words make you sound like another “I got mine” celebrity who forgot where he came from.

That is the sad part in all this, especially when virtually the entire Latino social media world stood up for you last week. You don’t owe us anything, Marc. Except maybe an apology.

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Comments

The problem really is that we as Latinos do not support each other and draw lines depending on which country we are from. We are our own worst enemy. When Marc Anthony first commented, he addressed the 'uproar' based on the fact that he was of Puerto Rican descent and born in NYC. But as a true NYer that he is, he really has no clue about what goes on outside his little world. He doesn't realize that in some places, children are not sent to school for fear of being found to have illegal immigrant parents, so, Mr. Anthony, stop being as ignorant as those yahoos that commented about your heritage and look beyond your little world into the rest of the Latino experience. I'm Cuban born and raised in the US and in northeastern NJ and people are just as ignorant in our community as they are everywhere else. In order to have change, we need to get along first. I can't stand Devious Maids, sorry, as a woman, and a Latina. Oh and I love Marc Anthony's music and performances, not too crazy about the guy himself.

I don't care what everyone says, it all goes back to the story of the "Cangrejos" (Crabs in the Bucket). Mr Varela mentioned in his article the fact that now that Marc Antony is in a position of success and influence, his words make him sound like another “I got mine” celebrity who forgot where he came from.

That is exactly what happens in the story when one brown crab (Latino) climbs it's way out of the bucket while the others do not help him and in fact try to pull him down. Marc Anthony, like so many others (Robert Rodriguez, Jennifer Lopez, George Lopez, etc.), walk away and refuse to help others (Latinos) climb out of the bucket! So as a result it is just as hard for the rest of us to achieve any level of success in the entertainment industry!

YES, he is out of touch with what is happening. He is a Latino who also happens to be super-wealthy, and super-privileged. Because he is so wealthy, he totally out of touch with how severe the impact of institutionalized racism actually is on Latinos and other folks of color from the poor, working and even middle classes, which Hollywood stereotyping arguably helps to perpetuate. As an ignorant reactionary he obviously feels that being perceived as standing alongside his nation's vulnerable would either make him look like a weakling or a Communist. So he's drawn his hard line in the sand and has placed himself firmly along side his class. Marc Anthony is on the side of money. The only people of colour he stands with are green.

#1 Marc Anthony was the target of racism –– not related to hollywood.
#2 Latinos need more representation, yes... but his comments are not representative of everyone.

Regarding your comment: "The answer is simple: because the power to make these decisions and greenlight projects is still entrenched in promoting the same stale stereotypical narrative of US Latinos." You are correct but that has nothing to do with MA. It has a lot to do with Latinos coming together and accessing the culture of power.

I think he is not being disrespectful to existing playwrights or producers.

Has anyone actually watched Devious Maids? and has anyone actually watched the telenovelas in telemundo and Univision? Devious Maid, like Desperate housewives is supposed to be a telenovela like show. Let's talk about the number of dark skinned actresses over the age of 30 used in novelas to represent the sexy leading lady characters in Univision or Telemundo...Judy Reyes would of NEVER been casted by Univision or Telemundo producers to play a sexy character she is too short and too black...so if our own networks can properly depict our own people...we really expect Hollywood to represent us better? when our own networks don't respect our women enough to portray us properly. More importantly why is every latino entertainer being asked about this show? why is it being made into a debate to chose sides....im sure as an entertainer he doesn't want to tear down the show bc one of the producers is another Latino...somehow it ended in an awkward response, but he is a singer not a latino studies professor...yes his comments are off-putting but so is trying to label and classify what latino is... its just never going to work as long as we keep this juntos pero no revueltos mentality.

marc anthony didn't miss the point. instead u twisted the intent of his words. they asked him "if there is space for a different latino representation". Marc's answer was on point... in other words: < who the heck asked for space! hollywood don't owe latinos anything.> and pointing out that there are already latino projects out there - makes u read into his comment something that is not there. when Marc said we can write our own stories... he never said or implied that we don't. on the contrary I took it as - YEAH! and we DO. you took it as : WHAT, but we do. see? its all your interpretation. I <3 marc anthony!

I don't see anything wrong with his comment. He is saying that just because we are Latinos does not mean that we can dictate what Hollywood is willing to invest money in. Supply and demand is simple. We can choose what we will put our money into through consumerism. He is emphasizing the fact that, if we want to have a different representation, it's up to us to create it. But they don't "owe" Latinos or any other ethnicity a thing.

With all due respect to your opinion, I would say that you miss the meaning of the statement of Marc Anthony. I think the focus was that if you think someone owes you something and complain of injustice, you lose focus on your success. If this time the material is not accepted in Hollywood (for example) just keep training to play the game where you want to be a winner. I'm sure Marc knows well what it is because he has played enough clichéd roles. In no moment did not say that someone is lazy or not talented or something. He just try to shift the focus from the complaint to "I know I can and I know I will succeed." He is still a man who all (well not all, but many) recognize as ugly and skinny, in an industry that does not forgive such things. You remember that for this reason it is not was allowed to go on stage with Menudo and he had to sing backstage. And this discrimination is from Latinos. Just the man has learned that from the complaints would not greatly benefit.
However, the assumption that because he is rich, is far from reality, is also a cliche. I think his reaction to the xenophobic statements was so dignified, precisely because he rejected the complaint as an option.

First of all, Devious Maids is a terrible show and sadly produced by Latinos. Maybe Marc wanted to avoid offending the creators of the show and didn't elaborate but I took his words as meaning that nothing will be offered to Latino artists unless they create the opportunities for themselves. Marc knows what it's like to fight stereotypes and break barriers, he did it himself 20 years ago and succeeded. But he did it by producing great quality work , work he can be proud of, and not by feeding the stereotypes like Ms. Langoria with her "maids". And Marc Anthony has remained loyal to his roots and proudly represented the Latino community. I hope younger artists will follow his example.

It's ALL about the $$. If Latinos have something to say and can say it well and there's a market for their creativity, then it will be made and sold to the highest bidders/and or audience regardless of who is in charge. The man owes no apologies for the honest truth.